Best gymkhana and autocross motorsport seat
GYMKHANA AND AUTOCROSS
Gymkhana and autocross put a seat through a different load case to circuit racing. It is not sustained cornering, it is repeated snap direction changes at low speed, so what you want is a shell that holds your hips and shoulders still the instant you turn the wheel, not one built around long, high-G loading. Weight matters too, more than most people admit, because a lot of gymkhana and autocross cars are already fighting a power to weight limit in their class.
I have fitted a fair few of these for drivers building a spec car on a budget, and the honest answer is the shell choice matters less than getting the waist size right. A seat that is too wide lets you slide during the sharp direction changes gymkhana demands, no matter how good the brand is. Garreth's seen plenty of cars turn up with a seat that looked right on the listing photo and fitted nobody.
Our Gymkhana Seats category currently runs 60-plus models, almost all FIA 8855-1999 or 8855-2021 approved, from £334 up to Sparco's 8862-spec carbon shell at over £4,000. That range is genuinely well stocked, so this is not a guide where we are stretching thin choice to fill a page.
- Lightest gymkhana-category seat with a published weight is the Sparco Rev QRT fibreglass shell at 7.1kg, £345
- Almost every seat in this category is FIA 8855-1999 approved, with one newer FIA 8855-2021 model (Sparco Master Advanced) and one non-homologated road/sim option (Mirco MX5 pair)
- Published waist sizing runs from a 28in-32in fit up to 36in-40in, model by model, so check the individual listing rather than the category as a whole
- No OMP model currently sits in our Gymkhana Seats category, Sparco, Cobra, Corbeau and Tillett cover the range instead
- Prices span roughly £334 to over £4,000 across the full category
Which seat to buy for a class-restricted gymkhana build
Start with waist size, not brand. Every seat we list in this category has a published driver waist size, usually a 4 inch band such as 28in-32in or 32in-36in. Gymkhana rewards a snug fit because the car is changing direction hard and often, so if you are between two sizes, go with the tighter one rather than the roomier one, provided you can still get in and out with your race suit on.
Weight is the second thing to check if your class has a minimum weight limit or you are chasing power to weight. Of the seats with a published weight in this category, the Sparco Rev QRT at 7.1kg and the Tillett C1 at 7.9kg are the lightest we stock. The Corbeau Pro Series X System 1 sits close behind at 8.5kg. Heavier fixed-back options like the Recaro Profi SPG or Pro Racer SPG HANS come in around 12kg, which is fine on a road car build but adds up if you are on a strict class limit.
On FIA versus non-FIA: if your organising body’s scrutineering sheet asks for FIA 8855 approval, stick to the seats marked FIA 8855-1999 or the newer FIA 8855-2021 standard (the Sparco Master Advanced Fibreglass is the one 8855-2021 seat we currently list here). If your event does not require homologation, for example a car club sprint or a private practice day, the Mirco MX5 Alcantara Imitation pair is listed for road, track and sim use instead of FIA competition, and costs less as a result. Do not buy that one and then find out at scrutineering it does not count.
Check your car's regs before you buyGymkhana and autocross class rules vary by organiser. Some require FIA 8855 homologation and a valid seat date, others do not. Confirm with your organiser or series regs before committing to a shell, we would rather you ask first than return a seat that fails scrutineering.
Sparco vs Corbeau vs Cobra vs Tillett: a real comparison
We do not currently stock an OMP model in the Gymkhana Seats category, so instead of invent a comparison we do not have stock for, here is what we actually sell against each other, one representative model per brand, matched roughly on FIA 8855-1999 spec and waist sizing.
| Brand | Model | Weight | Price | Homologation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco | Rev QRT | 7.1kg | £345.00 | FIA 8855-1999 |
| Tillett | C1 | 7.9kg | £1,263.49 | FIA 8855-1999 |
| Corbeau | Pro Series X System 1 | 8.5kg | £610.00 | FIA 8855-1999 |
| Cobra | Suzuka T Pro-Fit | 9.0kg | £561.00 | FIA 8855-1999 |
Weights and prices as listed on sportseats4u.co.uk, correct 2026-09-06
Sparco’s Rev QRT is the cheapest and lightest of the four, and it is a genuinely popular choice for budget-limited club builds. Tillett’s C1 costs more than double but is built to a different standard of finish and fit, worth it if you are chasing a proper competition seat instead of the lightest number on a spec sheet. Cobra’s Suzuka T Pro-Fit undercuts the Corbeau on price for a similar waist size band, the main difference being Cobra publish the seat’s internal mm dimensions (590mm width, 490mm base width) which makes it easier to check fitment against a tight tub before you buy.
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- Sparco Rev QRT: 7.1kg, FIA 8855-1999, waist 32in-36in, £345.00
- Corbeau Pro Series X System 1: 8.5kg, FIA 8855-1999, waist 32in-36in, £610.00
- Cobra Suzuka T Pro-Fit: 9.0kg, FIA 8855-1999, waist 28in-32in, height under 6ft, £561.00
- Tillett C1: 7.9kg, FIA 8855-1999, waist 32in-36in, £1,263.49
Frequently asked questions
Does a gymkhana or autocross seat have to be FIA homologated?
Only if your organiser or class regs require it. Check your series’ scrutineering sheet first. If homologation is not required, a non-FIA option such as the Mirco MX5 pair costs less.
What is the lightest seat you sell for a gymkhana build?
The Sparco Rev QRT at 7.1kg is the lightest seat in our Gymkhana Seats category with a published weight, followed by the Tillett C1 at 7.9kg.
Do you sell OMP gymkhana seats?
Not currently in this category. Sparco, Cobra, Corbeau and Tillett cover the range instead. If you specifically want an OMP shell, call us and we will check current OMP stock across the wider site.
How do I pick between two waist size bands?
If you are between a 28in-32in and a 32in-36in listing, go with the tighter band for gymkhana. The sharper direction changes reward a snug fit more than circuit racing does.
Will a heavier fixed-back seat cost me on a weight-limited car?
It can. The Recaro Profi SPG and Pro Racer SPG HANS both weigh around 12kg against 7 to 9kg for the Sparco, Tillett and Corbeau options above. Worth checking against your class weight limit before ordering.
What we would buyFor a class-restricted gymkhana build on a normal budget, the Sparco Rev QRT is the one we would order first, it is the lightest seat with a published weight in the range and the cheapest of the four in the comparison table. If budget allows and you want a seat built to a tighter tolerance, the Tillett C1 is worth the jump. Call us on 0115 9893488 with your waist size and car if you are not sure which band to pick, we would rather spend two minutes on the phone than have a seat come back.
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